2 Chronicles 1-9

The description of Solomon's temple in these chapters is pretty amazing... and to be honest, I am so inspired to go create something that it is hard to continue reading!!! But persist, I must.  I especially love this verse: 2 Chronicles 4:13... "Fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool, and embroidered with designs of winged creatures..."

Again I am remembering a verse from last week's reading, which reminds me that every good and beautiful thing in this entire world comes from God: every good and perfect and amazing and beautiful and inextricable thing, including the gold that Solomon used to make the temple. And since everything came from God in the beginning, we are wise to give a little of it back to Him, and thank Him for it, too.

All the art for today is spur-of-the-moment graphic design that I was inspired to create after reading these verses (Thanks, God!):

2 Chronicles 2:5

2 Chronicles 3:11

2 Chronicles 3:14

2 Chronicles 4:5

2 Chronicles 5:14

1 Kings

Love this reading today. In addition to Solomon's "don't cut the baby in half" decision and other memorable Sunday School lessons, I discovered one of the funniest verses thus far: 1 Kings 18:27, which, in my translation (the Contemporary English Version) reads: "At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. 'Pray louder,' he said. 'Baal must be a god. Maybe he's day-dreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he's asleep, and you have to wake him up.'"

Just totally random, and makes me appreciate the fact that my God is ALWAYS awake, and ALWAYS listening. And He is ALWAYS in control, both in good times and in bad (1 Kings 20:28).

If you have a moment, look up 1 Kings 19 and read chapters 9 through 13. I find this passage to be incredibly beautiful. One of my favorites so far...

1 Kings 3:8

1 Kings 6:30

1 Kings 8:36

1 Kings 9:3

1 Kings 17:13

Oh, and the graphic design today is inspired by a fantastic sermon I heard today at church, which included an allegory about the yellow brick road and a certain pair of ruby red sparkly shoes. *Thanks, Dean.* It's awesome to hear a sermon that references both zombies and the Wizard of Oz... and also inspires you to live your life for God. You can hear more at www.cleburnebible.org.